These one week residential summer programs held on the NCSSM-Durham and Elizabeth City State University campuses are designed to provide STEM opportunities and support for students from groups historically underrepresented in STEM fields and college attendance, including but not limited to students who identify as African American/Black, Hispanic/Latino, Native American, Native Hawaiian or other Pacific Islander, or female; students from low-income households; and students from the three NC U.S. Congressional Districts (1, 3, 11) with the lowest proportion of students pursuing post-secondary education after graduating from high school.

This interactive, interdisciplinary academic program uses exciting real-world subjects to challenge talented rising ninth- and 10th-graders across North Carolina and build their skills in science, math, technology, and communications. The program is free, with applications being open only to current eighth grade students who are residents of North Carolina. Students who are accepted into and complete the program as rising ninth graders (cohort 1 students) are then offered a spot to return for a second summer of programming as rising tenth graders (cohort 2 students).

• Note: Students must live in one of the following eastern North Carolina counties in order to be eligible to attend Step Up to STEM at ECSU: Beaufort, Bertie, Bladen, Brunswick, Camden, Carteret, Chowan, Columbus, Craven, Currituck, Dare, Duplin, Edgecombe, Gates, Greene, Halifax, Hertford, Hyde, Jones, Lenoir, Martin, Nash, New Hanover, Northampton, Onslow, Pamlico, Pasquotank, Pender, Perquimans, Pitt, Sampson, Tyrell, Washington, and Wayne